Baylor looking to become bowl eligible with win over Texas Tech

For the first time this season, the Bears pulled all sides of the team together to defeat then top-ranked Kansas State last week. The team is hoping to carry that momentum against Texas Tech this weekend to become bowl eligible for a school record three consecutive years.

“I think we’re playing right at the right time…guys are more comfortable out there,” Baylor head coach Art Briles said about the performance of his team. “It was good to see them come together and have a lot of fun playing the game.”

As the Bears head to Dallas to take on Texas Tech this weekend at Cowboys Stadium, it is essential that Baylor maintain that continuity throughout the team if they wish to become bowl eligible.

“…As long as we prepare like we have been doing and don’t change anything, hard work does pay off, and if we keep doing that, we should be fine” running back Lache Seastrunk said.

Texas Tech, a team that has been unpredictable this season, will not be easy to conquer if Baylor shows any sign of weakness. The Red Raiders are currently fifth in the Big 12 standings after being picked in the preseason to finish ninth.

One of the most dangerous weapons Texas Tech has utilized this season is quarterback Seth Doege. He is currently third in the Big 12 in total offense and pass efficiency. This season, Doege has thrown for 3,575 yards and 35 touchdowns with wins against then No. 4 West Virginia and No. 21 TCU.

“They are extremely dangerous,” Baylor head coach Art Briles said. “Seth [Doege] is an extremely talented player. They have had an outstanding year. They are sitting at 7-4 and have been ranked the whole season up until this week. We know that we are going to have to play with as much inspiration and passion as we played with [last] Saturday in order to win this weekend.”

In a game where the Bears can get eaten up by a highly competitive offense, the defense will have to perform up to the standards they set in their game against Kansas State when they held the Wildcats to 362 total offensive yards and recorded three interceptions.

Fortunately for the Bears, cornerback Ahmad Dixon already notices areas of the game they are better prepared for against Texas Tech than most other Big 12 opponents were.

“[Texas Tech’s] ability to line back up in a hurry up offense…that’s something that a lot of teams, defensively, that they don’t see in the week of practice is that tempo, and that’s the upper hand we have on most teams,” Dixon said. “When most teams try to tempo us, it’s something that we’re used to, it’s like second nature to us.”

Briles has clearly proven his offense has what it takes to score the points. It is up to the defense again this week to prove they can get the stops in a game that is almost a must-win as they come down to the end of the season and their chances at bowl eligibility begin to lessen. -- Savannah Pullin